Public info session on pool and firehall referendum set

The City of Prince George today unveiled a series of public information sessions relating to the proposed replacement of Fire Hall #1 and the Four Seasons Leisure Pool.

A referendum will take place October 28 to seek voter approval to borrow up to $50 million to fund the rebuilding of the aging facilities. The city is seeking to borrow $35 million to replace the pool and $15 to replace the firehall. It is proposing to relocated the pool across the street from the current Four Seasons Pool in the block where the Days Inn is now located. It is looking at relocating the firehall to Massey Drive.

The plans include a series of public and digital “town hall” style meetings both online and in public and will involve the city’s regular period of neighbourhood conversations known as Talktober. Open houses are planned to be held at the Four Seasons Leisure Pool and Fire Hall #1.

“Public engagement is one of the top priorities of this Council,” said Mayor Lyn Hall, in a press release. “Residents can look forward to tours of the facilities, in-person presentations from City officials, and question-and-answer sessions directly with Council and Administration. For residents who want to engage online and via social media, there will be the opportunity to participate in digital town halls online and via social media. Council and administration are really looking forward to engaging with residents about these important decisions.”

Open houses

Fire Hall #1 – An open house will be held at the current and proposed sites of Fire Hall #1 on Saturday, September 16 from 9 a.m. to noon (current site at Seventh and Dominion) and at the proposed site on Massey Drive (next to the Northern BC YMCA) near the intersection with Carney Street from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. City officials will be stationed at a white tent on-site.

Four Seasons Leisure Pool – An open house will be held at the current site of the Four Seasons Leisure Pool at 775 Dominion Street on Wednesday, October 18 from 4:30-8 p.m.

Digital town halls

Two digital town halls will be held in council chambers at 6 p.m. on September 19 (Fire Hall #1) and September 20 (Four Seasons Leisure Pool). Media have been invited to participate as a panel to ask questions posed to them by their respective audiences directly to the mayor and city officials. The video from the events, which will be held in council chambers at City Hall, will be streamed live on the city’s website (www.princegeorge.ca) and on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cityofpg). Residents can also attend in person.

The city continues to reach out to community organizations, groups, and clubs that may be interested in learning more about the upcoming referendum directly from city officials. Interested group organizers can fill out a form on the city’s website or contact Dyra Pridham at dyra.pridham@princegeorge.ca |250-561-7691 to arrange a presentation.